NFL Wire News

NFL notebook: Patriots CB Butler benched for three weeks

Cornerback Malcolm Butler may have been the hero of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory, but that does not make him immune to discipline when he fails to meet his responsibilities.

Butler missed a flight to Boston because of weather issues and was late for the first practice of organized team activities (OTAs) on May 26. As a result, he was held off the practice field for three weeks, the Boston Herald reported.

The NFL Players Association is looking into a potential violation of the collective-bargaining agreement, union sources told NFL Media’s Albert Breer. Sanctions for missing voluntary work would violate the CBA, the sources said.

Butler is expected to be back on the field for Thursday’s workout.

—Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle C.J. Mosley agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, according to reports Wednesday.

The 31-year-old Mosley played 31 games for the Lions over the last two seasons. The Lions tried to re-sign Mosley after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley as free agents. In Miami, Mosley will be reunited with Suh.

Mosley had 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 15 games (eight starts) for the Lions last year — his 10th season in the NFL. He was suspended for two weeks last season after marijuana was found in his room during the team’s trip to London for a game.

The eight-year pro is completing his rehab work after having hip surgery early in the offseason. He hasn’t been cleared for team drills, with Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp on the horizon June 16-18, but coach Mike McCarthy expects Nelson to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.

“We set a plan at the beginning, and we’re hitting every target,” Nelson said. “We’ll be ready to go by training camp.”

—Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, still feeling the pain of Green Bay’s NFC Championship Game overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks last season, believes the Packers have the talent to get to the Super Bowl.

“I think the talent is definitely there,” Rodgers told ESPN. “But just like last year, you’ve got to see how the team comes together.

“I’d like to think we’re going to get back there and win another one. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t because you put a lot into it, and we feel like we’ve been close a few times and had some good teams and let a couple slip away. So it would be disappointing to not get back there, but I’m trying to avoid that and get back there as quick as possible and win another one.”

—Johnny Manziel, who has taken steps to clean up his life this offseason, is living with a former high school coach in Cleveland, Browns teammate Joe Haden told ESPN on Wednesday.

Manziel, who spent 10 weeks in a rehab center earlier this year, is living with Julius Scott, who was Manziel’s offensive coordinator and mentor at Kerrville Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

Scott reportedly was the disciplinarian for Manziel and his high school team. A year ago, Manziel said Scott “had the single biggest impact on my development as a player” and “molded me into the player I am today.”

—LaDainian Tomlinson, the San Diego Chargers’ career rushing leader, will enter the team’s Hall of Fame and have his No. 21 retired in November, the team said Wednesday.

The ceremony will take place at Qualcomm Stadium on Nov. 22, when the Chargers will play the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football.”

In 11 NFL seasons, Tomlinson rushed for 13,684 yards — the fifth most in NFL history. His 145 rushing touchdowns rank second to Emmitt Smith’s 164.

In nine years in San Diego, Tomlinson set a team record with 12,490 rushing yards and 138 rushing touchdowns. In 2006, he led the NFL with 1,815 rushing yards, set the NFL record with 28 rushing touchdowns and was named NFL MVP.

—The Seattle Seahawks promoted Maurice Kelly to vice president of player engagement, the club announced Wednesday.

In his role, Kelly is responsible for providing club personnel, players and families with programs that foster personal and professional growth.

Kelly, a former player with the Seahawks, has been responsible for developing programs designed to assist players in making a smooth transition into and out of professional football in such areas as financial education, career internship programs and continuing education.

—Another fantasy football convention in Las Vegas is going ahead with plans to hold the event without current NFL players.

Last week, the Tony Romo-led inaugural National Fantasy Football Convention was canceled after the league informed the NFL Players Association that the event scheduled for July 10-12 would be in violation of NFL rules by being held at a casino property.

This week, organizers of the Fantasy Sports Combine told the Associated Press they are continuing with their plans for an event in Las Vegas with former NFL players participating in autograph and fantasy-related sessions.